Fabspeed bypass pipes - worth it??

[sd_boxster]

Today, Mrs. sd_boxster told me over breakfast how happy she was that our Boxster sounds "throaty". While out walking this AM she came across a guy in a stock Box and described his exhaust note as "just sad."

Fabspeed, I have a slogan suggestion: "Exhaust mods even the wife will love!"

jmatta, not sure how you got your wheel into the frunk, as my 17" wouldn't go. I haven't tried since... maybe I was too busy being irritated about having a flat to puzzle through getting the wheel to fit, though it being round and all limits the number of configurations one has to try...

[jmatta]

not sure how you got your wheel into the frunk

Perhaps it was because it was so flat and compressed...I was very careful the lid closed without issue.

[Banana S]

I ordered a set of Fabspeed secondary cat bypass pipes this week and received them today. My observations, in no particular order:

- The pipes are VERY nice quality. Very impressive, although for the price I suppose they should be.

- No instructions came with the pipes, which doesn't really bother me, but some people might find that disconcerting.

- Porsche's choice in hardware sucks. Just sucks. Sucks hard. Really. There are ten (10) bolts holding the stock cat bypass pipes to the muffler and the headers. Seven (7) of the ten (10) bolts broke immediately upon trying to remove them. (And I sprayed all of them with WD-40 first.) One (1) nut was so rusted that I could not get the socket on it firmly, and I ended up rounding the edges of the nut. Had to use a Sawzall to remove that nut. The remaining two (2) nuts, which happened to be the two (2) nuts that are hardest to reach (at the top of the flange connecting the secondary cats to the headers), were TACK-WELDED to the headers! Yep, some genius attached the secondary cats to the headers, then once the nuts were tight, he tack-welded the nuts to the headers. Brilliant. I was able to remove one of those two nuts with a combination of a Dremel tool, a Sawzall, and a die grinder. I'm going to finish removing the last nut tomorrow, after I buy another Dremel tool. (In fairness, this one was on its last legs anyway.)

- Because the four (4) bolts closest to the muffler broke (or had to be cut off with a Sawzall) when I tried to remove them, I'll need to pick up four new nuts & bolts at the hardware store tomorrow while I'm picking up that new Dremel. To those planning to do this install yourselves, I'd recommend picking up those four bolts beforehand.

- It's been said plenty before, but it bears repeating: The Fabspeed secondary cat bypass pipes are MUCH lighter than the stock secondary cats.

Can't wait to finish the job tomorrow and see how it drives & sounds.

[2K3_Boxster_S]

Originally Posted by Banana S

One (1) nut was so rusted that I could not get the socket on it firmly, and

Just curious what year is your Boxster? I recently removed entire exhaust including headers and every bolt broke lose with ease. I think my car has been garaged its entire life also. maybe that makes a difference.

[Banana S]

Mine is a 2002 and spent its first 6 years in Chicago, where I believe it was driven year-round. When I had the PPI done a year ago, the mechanic even said that he rarely sees Porsches with the degree of cosmetic road-salt corrosion on the bottom of the car that this car had. (Although he also told me not to worry about it, and that it should not deter me from buying the car.)

I take it you did not have the two tack-welded bolts on your car?

[2K3_Boxster_S]

Originally Posted by Banana S

Mine is a 2002 and spent its first 6 years in Chicago, where I believe it was driven year-round. When I had the PPI done a year ago, the mechanic even said that he rarely sees Porsches with the degree of cosmetic road-salt corrosion on the bottom of the car that this car had. (Although he also told me not to worry about it, and that it should not deter me from buying the car.)

I take it you did not have the two tack-welded bolts on your car?

Lol, nope. This Car started out life in FL. made its way to NJ. I picked it up from a private dealership, All Benz's on the lot except the Boxster. I guess someone traded for a Benz. The car fax was super clean. but there still something fishy about it. When I was doing the Exhaust I noticed one side of the car has brand new rear control arm and rear brace. still had parts sticker on it. Oh well. it drives fine. I think it was hit in the back. some one did a damn good job on the paint or either it was fish tailed into a curb maybe Good Luck it should sound better with those CATS gone. Next you gotta lose the front CATS.

[Daniel R]

I made my own bypass pipes from 2" stainless to match the after-market headers I put on previously. Had to modify the way it connected to my still stock muffler, we ended up making flanges for the back end of the bypass pipes and attaching it to the muffler like that rather than with the u-bolts.

The results???

Honestly, the sound is not a lot different, slightly improved but nothing dramatic. I am sure there is some extra power without the cats, they are quite restrictive components, but not enough for the butt dyno to really detect it. The weight saving is an obvious benefit, and was enough for me to justify the mod. Then again, in Australia we do not have to go through any annual compliance checks, once a car is registered it will never be inspected as long as the registration stays paid up. If I had to take them on and off every year I would not have bothered with it.